"Blue Dot"

Born in Namur in 1914, Belgian artist Benoît Gilsoul completed his primary studies and Greek-Latin humanities, then entered the Académie Royale des Beaux Arts, the most prestigious Belgian art college from which he graduated in 1938. During the six years at the Académie, Gilsoul acquired a solid artistic training. By 1933, he had already founded the secessionist art group: “L’Esquisse,” an influential group of young artists in Belgium that developed into the group “Salon National des Jeunes Artistes”.
In 1958, he became président of the Association des Artistes Belges and in 1960, the Belgian government sent him to the United States on a grant to study the US artists and artistic movements. Gilsoul quickly fell in love with America and upon his return to Belgium decided to resettle in America with his family and became an American citizen in 1967. Once settled in the US Gilsoul began to design and work extensively in the field of stained glass while continuing his work in painting, print making, tapestry, and sculpture. He operated his own studio in New York where he created, designed and executed his work. Gilsoul is regarded today as one of the foremost artists in the field of Stained Glass.